Radio-Television of Vojvodina and its Director-General Miodrag Koprivica awarded with the Order of Saint Sava

His Holiness Porfirije, Serbian Patriarch, awarded Dr. Miodrag Koprivica, Director-General of Radio and Television of Vojvodina, and the Public Media Institution Radio Television of Vojvodina with the highest distinction of the Church, the Order of Saint Sava.

Together with the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Their Graces Bishops Fotije of Zvornik-Tuzla, Vasilije of Srem and David of Krusevac, as well as Bishop Dr. Irinej of Backa, associates and family members of Mr. Koprivica attended the apposite ceremony in the Throne Hall. 

In his address at the beginning of the ceremony, Patriarch Porfirije emphasized the feeling of personal joy, because he has the opportunity to make a decision on decorations that was made during the service of his memorable predecessor, Patriarch Irinej. The Patriarch pointed out that the successful professional career of Mr. Koprivica was marked not only by extraordinary results in important companies and institutions he led, but also by constant efforts to protect the interests of the Serbian state, the Serbian people as a whole, and especially the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Also, the Serbian First Hierarch reminded of the fact that in a sense Radio-Television of Vojvodina is a pioneer in the world of media - not only in Serbia, but also in the former Yugoslavia, because it was the first to establish sincere and fruitful cooperation with churches and religious communities, commenced 30 years ago with the series "ABC Book of Orthodoxy". His Holiness the Patriarch pointed out that through this series, which was something truly new in the television world, the truths of faith were presented to television viewers in a completely new and original way, as well as through the production cooperation between RTV and the Serbian Church. which the Church has entered the public sphere, to speak freely about itself and its faith, for itself and in its own language, as well as to address the faithful without intermediaries, but also the general public.

Emphasizing that the awarding of the Order of Saint Sava is a recognition for decades of cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church, but also for opening media space for other Churches and religious communities, especially for the possibility for the Church to express itself with its voice, the Patriarch pointed out that special merits belong to Mr. Miodrag Koprivica.

On behalf of the public media service of Vojvodina, the Order of Saint Sava was received from the hands of His Holiness Patriarch by the editor, Mr. Goran Eror, who, on behalf of all employees, thanked the Serbian First Hierarch and the Holy Synod of Bishops, emphasizing that he is extremely honored to receive a high decoration on behalf of a media house that broadcasts in 15 different languages ​​- and which is not only communicative, but and in the technical sense, one of the most modern televisions in our area. According to him, the awarding of the Order of Saint Sava to Radio Television of Vojvodina is a confirmation that the television company is on the right path. On the other hand, he additionally thanked the Serbian Orthodox Church for making the media space cleaner with its testimony, its social engagement and actions, especially through programs to your media service.

Generally, the director of the Radio-Television of Vojvodina, Mr. Miodrag Koprivica, addressing the Serbian Patriarch Porfirije with direct and sincere words and the gathered archbishops and media activists, emphasized that he was extremely honored with the order of the holy name that was awarded to him. Joyful in his heart, but at the same time a little scared, as he sincerely confessed, he experienced an extraordinary honour of receiving a great confirmation and recognition of his commitment from the hands of the Serbian Patriarch and Bishop Irinej of Backa Irinej - from the hands of people with whom he has worked and cooperated for 30 years – to receive a great order as a confirmation and recognition of his commitment. Director Koprivica remembered his ancestors, who gave toponyms in the areas they inhabited after Saint Sava, and in that sense he underlined the responsibility that such recognition brings with it.

Apart from expressing gratitude to Patriarch and Bishop Irinej, Mr. Koprivica especially thanked all other associates - all national workers he worked with from Hilandar on the Mt. Athos to Szentendre and Pecs in Hungary, colleagues from the Television, and finally those whose support was crucial - members of his family. As he underlined, at the time when the family was attacked, that support is the most precious. Concluding his address with moving words, that by receiving a high decoration, he is obliged to follow in the footsteps of Saint Sava in the future, Mr. Koprivica presented to Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Bishop Irinej of Backa Irinej, a bibliophilic edition of Zaharije Orfelin's History of Life and Glorious Works of Ruler Peter the First from 1772.